Sometimes people won’t notice they have a bed bug problem until they find bites on their bodies. The pictures included below include examples of the type of bites left by a bed bug and demonstrate some significant characteristics. First, a bed bug is a nocturnal pest and emerges from its hiding place in search of food. Unfortunately for home and business owners, each bed bug enjoys the taste of blood and requires a host to bite and from which to eat. It’s not uncommon for bed bugs to move and bite in groups, which causes some distinctive attributes.For example, unlike the bites of fleas and mosquitoes, bed bugs will leave bites in groups or straight lines that can be seen in Image 1 and Image 2. Also unlike the bites of fleas and mosquitoes, a bed bug usually bites areas which are vulnerable when a person is sleeping. Fleas bite people on the ankles, feet, and lower legs. Mosquitoes, while they bite all over the body, bite in different locations and do not target areas covered by clothes. A bed bug, on the other hand, can bite all over a person’s arms, hands, legs, feet, back, and sides. The pictures below demonstrate a common location for bed bug bites: the entire back and side.

Image 1

Another characteristic is how the bites from a bed bug are small, red, swollen, and frequently itchy. While bed bug bites do not always need medical attention, some people might experience an allergic reaction. If this happens, the affected individual should take an antihistamine and seek professional medical treatment if the effect is severe. Some signs of a severe reaction are intense itching, a rash, and trouble breathing. Most bites from a bed bug, however, can be treated with some antiseptic cream. A person should try to not scratch at the bites because doing so can cause worse irritation and even lead to skin infections.​

Image 2

The last thing people should know about bed bug bites is that they can disappear, only to reappear. Bed bugs do not need to eat every day, so it’s common for the bites to heal and fade, only to be replaced with new bites a few days later. Either way, if a home or business owner finds similar marks to the ones in these pictures, it indicates a bed bug infestation. One of the best courses of action is to seek immediate help from your local professional pest control business to stop the pests before the problem worsens.